Hello everyone, I finally made it home yesterday, 14 months is a pain, but not as bad as a 15 monther. I was able to purchase a replica T wall at the px on Camp Liberty, and have decided that since my Platoon did so many Barrier emplacement missions that I would do a diorama of one with a model of my M3A2 ODS Bradley. Now all I need is the information on where I can get the BRAT, and the Pope Glass for the BC, and wire deflectors, other stuff I should be able to come up with.
Thanks in advance
Ric Cody

Etch sets can be found by Voyager and Eduard. Interior and exterior sets are out there for most any Tam Bradley. Blast and VP make ERA armor, the former being the better one.
Tracks and suspensions are obtainable through BLAST, Fruil and I believe Modelkasten.
As far as the Pope, CITV and other little bits and bobbles, those will have to be scratchbuilt.
I'm sure I've missed some. Others will chime in.

Unfortunately, there is no AM for these items. There is really almost no Bradley AM out there.

Eduard does a few exterior PE sets for different versions and an M2 turret interior Set. They also do a set w/ two side racks, jerry can racks, and tie downs for a 2BDE, 3ID OIF 1 Brad.

Verlinden has the incomplete side racks (only comes w/one) and stoage set for a 2 BDE, 3ID invasion M2A2 and an incomplete ERA set missing front and rear panels.

Legend has a couple stowage sets and a set (w/ again only one side racK) for a 2BDE, 3ID OIF 1 Brad.

Blast has a couple sets; a really nice, complete ERA set and a running gear and track replacement set.

There are also Fruil metal and AFV Club plastic "Bigfoot" square-block tracks. Fruil and Academy make the oder triangle pad tracks as well.

A member here is working on an M2A3 conversion as well. Keep an eye out for it soon.

Check out Pavel's M2A2 Accurization and Detailing article for soem tips to improving them as well.

On theT-Wall, I have seen them at the Liberty PX as well. I hadn't thought about using them in a dio. Do they scale out pretty well to 1/35th? I might have to pick a few up if they do.

Good luck.

Thanks for the plug Gino. Yeah, I am working on some conversions for the CITV and other details for the Bradley. All model work is on hold while I attempt to get a new job, should know by July 3 or so. BUT if I get the job I think I will be able to get more work done in a more timely manner. We shall see.

DML has released a nice M3A2 ODS.....in 1/72th scale


Frenchy

is there anywhere to buy Blast model accessories here in the states? trying to keep from spending that extra dough on the shipping and handling

Ric

Also, Gino, I know I had asked you a couple years ago, but where in Savannah is a good model store? I appreicate it.

Ric

I have found it cheapest to buy Blast directly from Blast. Even with the shipping it is cheaper than most US suppliers. Great Models wants around $65 for teh ERA. Total w/shipping from Blast was about $40 when I bought it.

Unfortunately, there was no good hobby shop (as of when I left 5 yrs ago) in Savannah. There were a few train shops and an RC car/airplane shop, but that was it. The only one in th area was Big Top Hobbies in Hinesville, by a Winn Dixie coming out the main gate to Ft Stewart. He had a good selection and would order anything you needed. Owner was a pretty nice guy too.

Wow! Big Top is still there? It was open back in '87 when I was stationed at Ft Stewart!

you can try R&J Enterprise. they are in Oregon or Washington. They have some Blast stuff at decent prices. I use them quite a bit.

Ric,

Can you take some measurements off the mini T-wall? I have measurements on the real thing and want to compare them for scale. I don't want to buy one unless it is going to be close to 1/35 scale. If they are, I might have to cast up a few extras.

Sorry it took so long Gino, been doing the reintigration thing and had to dig it out.

It is 7" tall, 4" wide, and 3" deep at the base.

In comparison to some of my models here, it is a little wide, but the height looks about right. I am not too worried about it, as I plan on just making a memorial Diorama out of it, and it has the "OIF Baghdad 2008" on it with a place to put a coin.

Ric

Thanks Ric. Unfortuntely, using my handy-dandy scale calculator, they scale out to roughtly 1/20 scale. I thought they looked a little big. I might just have to scratch some up. I was looking at them today and they are pretty simple. Basically, they are two slabs offset at the centerline.

For anyone who doesn't know what we are talking about, here is a pic.

One on its side.


Slightly different type, but same idea.


They are interlocking, sectional concrete walls erected around places we want to protect from blast damage in Iraq.

Yours will look good as a display piece though. Good luck on it.

Not to wade in TOTALLY ignorant, but for all others to know, there are three "standardized" (I use the word loosly here) barrier types:

1. Jersey...small, like you see in US construction sites and road repair

2. Texas..larger, higher...like 12ft tall?

3. Alaska...largest...20ft tall?

They are producing locally made barriers now, correct? Are their still lots of partitions on the roads/streets? Us Dio oriented people want to know!

Jacques is correct. The wall I am looking to reproduce is the Texas Wall (T-Wall). It is the most common now. The smaller ones are still around too.

The T-wall is 12' high, 5' wide, and 4' thick at the base.

Alaska berrier is 14' high, 6' wide, and 5' thick at the base.

Jersey Barrier is 3' high, 5' wide, and 2' thick at the base.

They are being made locally as well, but to the same specs as above. They are being used everywhere, so lots of dio possibilities with them.